THE SCHOOLCHILDREN S HOLIDAY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 82, 31 December 1926, Page 16

THE SCHOOLCHILDREN S HOLIDAY

IDEAS FOR ENJOYABLE AND PROFITABLE LEISURE

The problem is perennial, and frequently perplexing, not only to the parents, but especially to anybody who presumes to offer advice. There are so many varying factors to be considered: whether, for. example, those who must be amused are home from boarding or day school. In passing, the former are usually' very much easier to deal with, and may be trusted fully to occupy themselves for the first few days. A Few Suggestions. Much depends on the size of the family, number of friends, money available, home and outside parties, or other festivities, and whether the surroundings are town or country. There-; •' fore one can offer only a few general ..and tentative suggestions, leaving them to be adapted, when possible, to the in- ; dividual circumstances. If the children have hobbies the problem to a great extent solves it- < self. If not, hobbies should be introduced. ■ Last Christmas a solitary boy of the writer’s acquaintance was happily absorbed almost, throughout the holidays making a wireless set. Save for crystals and a few lengths of wire, it was entirely his own work, being installed on a cigar-box, while switches were furnished by paper fasteners passed. through stiff paper, Fretwork, stencilling, “poker” work, passe-part-out frames, and plastic-modelling are suggested for other “lines.” ,Getting up a play, charades, or a concert-provides sustained interest and occupation, for; a -large family. Turn the boys and girls to household jobs, but in doing so. take a leaf out of “Tom Sawyer’s” book. Mark Twain's boy hero, it may be recalled,

was ordered to paint a fence. He set to work unwillingly, feeling himself a victim of domestic tyranny. Other boys came along and stopped to jeer. He pretended to be enjoying his task; he whistled over it. Then he threw back his head and admired his handiwork. A boy offered to take a turn. The request was at first refused. In the end “Tom” looked on while the other boys finished his job, having paid heavilv in specie or kind for the “privilege.” Therefore, let materfamilias start the work, and accept help only as a favour. Cooking competitions, and not for girls onlv, mav be organised. Girls may be put to dressing old dolls for presentation to children’s hospitals, a prize being offered- for the best effort. If the farnilv has literary leanings, start a competition for the best sliort story. All compositions to be read aloud by the author, the winner being decided by ballot. Outdoor Competitions. Turning to out-of-doors, walks are obviously a stand-by. But walks, especially in cities and towns, are apt to be dull. Make them interesting by introducing “observation” competitions, on the Boy Scout or Girl Guide plan, a suggestion which may also be applied to museums, art galleries, sights, ' find other shows. “What struck me most about . . ” is the basic idea upon which to work. In short, the secret of keeping boys and girls contented and occupied during the holidays seems to be to introduce a competitive interest, and to lure them into working and acquiring useful knowledge under the guise of play.